GSB president likely to be next central bank governor

Vitai Ratanakorn, president of Government Savings Bank, is highly likely to be nominated as the new governor of the Bank of Thailand, with political leaders eager to shift the regulator's policy direction towards stronger monetary policies that they believe would support the economy.

- WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

According to a source from the Finance Ministry who requested anonymity, the nomination could be proposed at the cabinet meeting next week, where Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is expected to nominate for cabinet approval a suitable candidate to head the central bank.

Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is scheduled to complete his term on Sept 30, 2025.

On Tuesday, the selection committee picked Mr Vitai and Roong Mallikamas, deputy governor for financial institutions stability at the central bank, as the two finalists, according to the source.

They were selected from six applicants interviewed on Tuesday.

The other contenders are: Sutapa Amornvivat, former chief executive of Abacus Digital; Somprawin Manprasert, former chief economist at SCB EIC; Kobsak Pootrakool, senior executive vice-president of Bangkok Bank; and Anusorn Thamjai, dean of the economics faculty at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.